Clever CD Storage Techniques

musicfirst1

Distributor - Music First
Mar 8, 2015
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www.musicfirstdistribution.ca
Gentle People

As my CD collection grows, I'm running out of conventional storage and the overflow goes into small moving boxes.
Has anyone found a clever storage method for CD a'la Milk cartons for LPs?
 
A server (like extreme or antipodes) works great for storing cd’s in a very small footprint.
 
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Gentle People

As my CD collection grows, I'm running out of conventional storage and the overflow goes into small moving boxes.
Has anyone found a clever storage method for CD a'la Milk cartons for LPs?
I use 4 of these, relatively compact footprint and reasonable cost. The recommended metal Lazy Susan is a worthwhile upgrade to the flimsy plastic one that comes with the unit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087NLG6R4/ref=twister_B087MZ3829?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

David
 
By far the most compact we have ever managed (and we did try) were medical equipment drawer cabinets. Ordered correctly, you can get exactly [7?] rows of CDs in a drawer, where each drawer is comfortably 6 inches tall (basically exactly for CD cases). So the footprint of the unit is maximally efficient, and the vertical height is maximally efficient...and if a properly built cabinet, you can pull the entire drawer out (easily) and it will hold 300+ CDs per drawer without ANY sagging...commercial grade since it is for medical equipoment. We have 2 (stacked) with 6 drawers each and have 2 full drawers completely empty with space created throughout each drawer for adding CDs.

And because they are 'standard issue', they dont cost much for the amount of storage you get. Hope that helps.

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By far the most compact we have ever managed (and we did try) were medical equipment drawer cabinets. Ordered correctly, you can get exactly [7?] rows of CDs in a drawer, where each drawer is comfortably 6 inches tall (basically exactly for CD cases). So the footprint of the unit is maximally efficient, and the vertical height is maximally efficient...and if a properly built cabinet, you can pull the entire drawer out (easily) and it will hold 300+ CDs per drawer without ANY sagging...commercial grade since it is for medical equipoment. We have 2 (stacked) with 6 drawers each and have 2 full drawers completely empty with space created throughout each drawer for adding CDs.

And because they are 'standard issue', they dont cost much for the amount of storage you get. Hope that helps.

View attachment 77646
Awesome! Do you have a link and recommended size?
 
Here is one I use - most compact way I know of holding CD's or DVD's. Holds 400 CD's without their cases. Larry
 

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  • Screenshot_2021-05-05 AmazonSmile Oriolus PU Leather CD DVD Binder Case Storage Holder (400 Di...png
    Screenshot_2021-05-05 AmazonSmile Oriolus PU Leather CD DVD Binder Case Storage Holder (400 Di...png
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Awesome! Do you have a link and recommended size?
Been a long time...here is the link. I am sure there are others. Hope this helps illustrate what is available. Note that these drawers were originally designed for medical instruments...and upon learning the internal dimensions, we realized they work really well for CDs. So I am sure there are similar drawers that are available nearer to you (ie, near any hospital or medical center).

 
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Gentle People

As my CD collection grows, I'm running out of conventional storage and the overflow goes into small moving boxes.
Has anyone found a clever storage method for CD a'la Milk cartons for LPs?
With or without the jewel cases?

I couldn't find a sleeve alternative that accommodated the booklet (front artwork visible), tray card (unfolded and visible) and one or two CDs in a single plastic sleeve that could be stored in available cabinets or drawers designed for jewel case storage. I designed one that was twice the width of a jewel case (so would fit standard storage), but I couldn't find a manufacturer that wanted to take it on and as I didn't need the 10K+ numbers to make a small production run and, as this was several years ago when CDs were rapidly disappearing from music lovers' radar, I dropped the idea and ripped the bloody things.

I store the now-unused CDs in a tall Ikea PAX unit 50 mm wide with pull-out KOMPLEMENT drawers that each hold about 120 jewel cases. They can be arranged as 2 upright rows to read the spine title slip and one landscape row to see booklet artwork, or 3 upright rows with space for dividers. With 120 per drawer there's plenty of spare space for easy flipping through. Must be an inexpersive way to store CDs in bulk as each tall PAX unit can be fitted with lots of drawers and high up spare space for LPs or spare equipment, etc. Much less costly, but not as space efficient as the multi-drawer medical cabinet though.
 
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I do NOT like to put CD into sleeves. I have gone precisely the other route. When I get a CD in a weird "sleeve" container where I know the CD is prone to scratches when taking out or putting in, I transfer it to a full-size (not thin) jewel box, which I bought whole cases of, and label it on its back with a label printer.

Some card board or paper sleeves in CD-box sets are ok, if you are able to handle them carefully without letting the CD scratch against the surface as you let it glide in and out of them. When I have made the assessment that this is possible, I keep using them as they come in the box.

Yet as far as I have seen, those plastic sleeves in compact storage cases have a tendency to actually scratch CDs. I stay FAR away from them.

Lloyd's media storage cabinet with drawers looks very attractive!
 
I do NOT like to put CD into sleeves. I have gone precisely the other route. When I get a CD in a weird "sleeve" container where I know the CD is prone to scratches when taking out or putting in, I transfer it to a full-size (not thin) jewel box, which I bought whole cases of, and label it on its back with a label printer.

Some card board or paper sleeves in CD-box sets are ok, if you are able to handle them carefully without letting the CD scratch against the surface as you let it glide in and out of them. When I have made the assessment that this is possible, I keep using them as they come in the box.

Yet as far as I have seen, those plastic sleeves in compact storage cases have a tendency to actually scratch CDs. I stay FAR away from them.

Lloyd's media storage cabinet with drawers looks very attractive!
Been using them for a decade without having problems with scratching. Note that each sleeve has a fibrous (cloth? paper?) layer in the pocket where the disc goes so it never touches bare plastic. I have found that with jewel boxes CD's are often scratched by the hard plastic central structure that holds them in place when less than carefully handled.
 
I have found that with jewel boxes CD's are often scratched by the hard plastic central structure that holds them in place when less than carefully handled.

Sure, you have to be careful whichever way.
 

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